---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought of myself as being the…"
description: "\"I never thought of myself as being the singer that wanted to create an identity and then stick to that.\" — Chris Cornell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg"
---

#  I never thought of myself as being the singer that wanted…

![“I never thought of myself as being the singer that wanted to create an identity and then stick to that.” quote by Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg)

> “I never thought of myself as being the singer that wanted to create an identity and then stick to that.”

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He rejects a fixed artistic persona, preferring fluid self‑definition.

**In simple terms:** He avoids a static identity as a singer.

Key Takeaway

Embrace evolving creativity.

Themes

identity creativity authenticity

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- career transitions
- personal branding

Key Concepts

self‑concept artistic evolution

Questions to Reflect On

- How does change affect your art?
- What holds you to a single image?

A Different Perspective

Identity can limit artistic growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [I've only ever wanted to be a singer; I never wanted to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-jenkins/i-ve-only-ever-wanted-to-be-a-singer-i-never-wanted-to-be-famous/)

[Katherine Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-jenkins/)

> [I've never thought of myself as a singer - I've always just used my voice as a vehicle to deliver songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-koma/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer-i-ve-always-just-used-my/)

[Matthew Koma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-koma/)

> [I'm a piano player. I never thought of myself as a singer, at all. I was always trying to sound like somebody else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-a-piano-player-i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer-at-all-i-was/)

[Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/)

> [And he was going to give me a song, because I'm a singer and I wanted to sing in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-kellerman/and-he-was-going-to-give-me-a-song-because-i-m-a-singer-and-i-wanted/)

[Sally Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-kellerman/)

> [I used to ride the school bus to school and just listen to music with my headphones. I'd stick my head out the window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zz-ward-53197/i-used-to-ride-the-school-bus-to-school-and-just-listen-to-music-with/)

ZZ Ward

> [I didn't want to just be another girl singer. I wanted there to be something that set me apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-didn-t-want-to-just-be-another-girl-singer-i-wanted-there-to-be/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

> [I was a young folk singer, or wanted to be. I really wanted to be a New England folk singer, but they never would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-was-a-young-folk-singer-or-wanted-to-be-i-really-wanted-to-be-a-new/)

[Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/)

> [I always wanted to be a singer, it's what I wanted to do since I was little. I'm doing it now and I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-singer-it-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-since-i-was/)

[Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/)

> [I've always thought of myself as a singer, even when I was a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-ozell/i-ve-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer-even-when-i-was-a-child/)

[Sunny Ozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-ozell/)

> [I've never really thought of myself as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-fink/i-ve-never-really-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer/)

[Charlie Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-fink/)

> [I've never thought of myself as a singer anyway. . . I've been free from those considerations because so many people over the years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer-anyway-i-ve-been-free-from/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [I sang in the glee club and church choir, but I never sang a solo. I never thought of myself as a singer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-nabors/i-sang-in-the-glee-club-and-church-choir-but-i-never-sang-a-solo-i/)

[Jim Nabors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-nabors/)

> [I always thought I was a singer, but I really am not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-albert/i-always-thought-i-was-a-singer-but-i-really-am-not/)

[Eddie Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-albert/)

> [I never thought of being a performer, never thought of being a singer, never thought of being a photographer. It's just the trajectory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-never-thought-of-being-a-performer-never-thought-of-being-a-singer/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [I never thought of myself as a singer, like ever, ever, ever. It's hysterical that I sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-singer-like-ever-ever-ever-it-s/)

[Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/)

## More by Chris Cornell

> [I've had a long career and I want to continue to have a long career. The way to do that is not to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-ve-had-a-long-career-and-i-want-to-continue-to-have-a-long-career/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [Music is supposed to be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/music-is-supposed-to-be-inspired/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [I think it's important for fans to know that but if I'm doing something that inspires me musically then I think it will inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-think-it-s-important-for-fans-to-know-that-but-if-i-m-doing/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [When you start your first band and it has an impact on the rest of the world you go through a lot with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/when-you-start-your-first-band-and-it-has-an-impact-on-the-rest-of/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [In the United States, workouts tend to focus on body image and how you look. For me, it's really all about the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/in-the-united-states-workouts-tend-to-focus-on-body-image-and-how-you/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [I don't care what people think of me or for what reason they think of me. I don't feel like I don't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-don-t-care-what-people-think-of-me-or-for-what-reason-they-think-of/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [I would look at older blues musicians who just keep going into their seventies. They keep doing it until they drop dead. And I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-would-look-at-older-blues-musicians-who-just-keep-going-into-their/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [I used to work in jobs I hated because I needed the money to buy a guitar. I know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-used-to-work-in-jobs-i-hated-because-i-needed-the-money-to-buy-a/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [When that much time goes by, you're really listening to your old music differently. At the time it's written, it was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/when-that-much-time-goes-by-you-re-really-listening-to-your-old-music/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave. I wish the other three members nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/due-to-irresolvable-personality-conflicts-as-well-as-musical/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [It's good for me to be involved in different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/it-s-good-for-me-to-be-involved-in-different-things/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [I started as a drummer, so I sort of took on singing duties by default. I had sung backgrounds and some lead vocals from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-started-as-a-drummer-so-i-sort-of-took-on-singing-duties-by-default/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [And if you dont believe the sun will rise, stand alone and greet the coming night in the last remaining light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/and-if-you-dont-believe-the-sun-will-rise-stand-alone-and-greet-the/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [Companies figured out that the easiest way to make money was to reissue records that the accounting department had paid for years ago and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/companies-figured-out-that-the-easiest-way-to-make-money-was-to/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

[Explore all 181 Chris Cornell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

## More Being quotes

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/)

[Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/)

[Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never thought of myself as being the singer that wanted to create an identity and then stick to that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Cornell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-singer-that-wanted-to-create/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-singer-that-wanted-to-create/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/chris-cornell-2180_being_i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-s_800834.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never thought of myself as being the singer that wanted to create an identity and then stick to that.” — Chris Cornell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chris Cornell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never thought of myself as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-singer-that-wanted-to-create/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-being-the-singer-that-wanted-to-create/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
